 |
| World War 1 Memorial Scroll |
Searching the Internet
I often use Google to see if there are any new occurrences on the
Internet of the Titheridge / Titheradge family name. A recent search enabled me
to find, and buy, a World War 1 Memorial Scroll for Lance Corporal Alfred James
Titheridge of the Royal Sussex Regiment.
It seemed such a shame that it had been separated from the family of
Alfred, but somewhere along the line there was either no one to pass it on to
or the person who inherited it did not find it interesting and worthy of
keeping. I couldn’t bear to see it leave the family completely, so I bought it
an added it to my collection of Titheridge / Titheradge family heirlooms and
documents.
The Memorial Scroll is shown in the picture. After World War 1 the
family would have received a Memorial Plaque as well as the scroll.
Memorial Plaque
During World War 1 the government decided to issue plaques and scrolls
to commemorate those who had died in the World War in order to acknowledge
their extreme sacrifice. The small plaque was made of bronze and was about
11cms in diameter. It was issued to the next of kin of the casualty as a memorial
to their loved one. The design contains the symbolic figure of Britannia,
holding a laurel wreath in her left hand over a box inscribed with the name of
the deceased soldier. In Britannia’s right hand is a trident and at her feet is
a lion. Two dolphins facing Britannia
represent Britain’s sea power. The inscription reads “He died for Freedom and
Honour”. The round shape and coin-like appearance earned the plaques the nicknames
Dead Man's Penny, Death Penny, Death Plaque and Widow's Penny.
Memorial Scroll
As well as receiving the plaque the family also received a Memorial Scroll.
This is what I now own for Alfred. The scroll is printed on high quality paper,
size 11 x 7 inches. The text is printed in calligraphic script beneath the
Royal Crest followed by the name of the commemorated serviceman giving his
rank, name and regiment individually written in calligraphic script. When it was
being designed the committee found the choice of words very difficult. These
are the poignant words that were eventual chosen:
He whom this
scroll commemorates was numbered among those who, at the call of King and
Country, left all that was dear to them, endured hardness, faced danger, and
finally passed out of the sight of men by the path of duty and self-sacrifice,
giving up their own lives that others might live in freedom.
Let those who come
after see to it that his name be not forgotten.
Production and Distribution of Plaque and Scroll
The production of the plaques did not start until the late autumn of
1918 because of problems with setting up the manufacture of the bronze plaques,
with the supply of the metal difficult to obtain in wartime. The production of
the high quality Memorial Scrolls was begun in January 1919. They were printed
from a wood block by artists at the London County Council Central School of
Arts and Crafts.
From 1919 and for several years following there
were over 1,000,000 plaques and scrolls sent to next of kin in commemoration of
their soldiers, sailors, airmen and a few hundred women who died as a direct
consequence attributable to service in the Great War. The “next of kin” in a serviceman's Service Record was sent a form to complete, to confirm all the living next of kin of that serviceman and the
person to whom the plaque and scroll should be sent.
The scrolls and plaques were sent separately each with a cover letter with a message from the King. It read:
Buckingham Palace
I join my grateful
people in sending you this memorial of a brave life given for others in the
Great War.
George R.I.
About Lance Corporal Alfred
James Titheridge
My Memorial Scroll commemorates Lance Corporal Alfred James Titheridge.
Alfred came from Southwick, near Brighton in Sussex. He was the son of Albert
James and Catherine Titheridge. He was
in the Royal Sussex Regiment 2nd Battalion. He lost his life on 25 September
1915 at the Battle of Loos and is remembered on the Loos Memorial. His story
has already been told on a previous blog please click here to read his story.
Alfred was descended from the Titheridges of Cheriton and you can find
his family tree at this link
Are you related to Alfred? If so please get in touch.
If you have a Titheridge /Titheradge Memorial Scroll or Plaque, please
get in touch.
No comments:
Post a Comment